Extortion suspect held after pizza box threat in Playa del Carmen

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — A judge has ordered pretrial detention for a man accused of attempting to extort a fast-food restaurant in Playa del Carmen after a pizza box left at the business was found to contain a written threat and three rifle cartridges.

According to the State Prosecutor’s Office, the case began on Aug. 7, when employees received threatening messages on the business’s phone line. The callers identified themselves as the “new leadership” and demanded the owner reach an “agreement” with them or the business would be shut down.

Prosecutors said the suspect, identified as Gabriel “N,” arrived at the restaurant on Aug. 10 with other men. One of his companions placed a pizza box on a table and claimed it was an order. When workers opened the box, they found a note telling them to contact a phone number within 30 minutes, along with three rifle cartridges.

The threats continued, with the group demanding a payment of 100,000 pesos and providing bank card numbers for the deposit, the prosecutor’s office said.

After the restaurant filed a complaint, investigators conducted field, office and digital inquiries and identified Gabriel “N” as one of the alleged participants. A judge found sufficient evidence to proceed with the case and ordered him held in pretrial detention for two years while the investigation continues.